Regular readers will recall that ten months ago, in May 2021, I outlined my intention to lobby the authorities to secure a Da Vinci X surgical robot for cancer treatment at Northampton General Hospital.
I am very pleased to report that funding has now been secured, via NHS England, to make this a reality and a Da Vinci X surgical machine has now been installed in Northampton General Hospital. The robot costs approximately £1.7 million.
The funding has been secured through the new ‘National Elective Recovery Targeted Investment Fund’ (TIF) which has been established as part of the Government’s ‘Build Back Better Plan’ for health and social care.
This revolutionary piece of equipment for Northampton General Hospital will improve patient experience and outcomes whilst also bolstering NGH’s and the East Midlands’ reputation in cancer treatment.
I would like to place on record my thanks and congratulations to Northampton General Hospital Chief Executive, Heidi Smoult, and also to Toby Sanders, Designate Chief Executive of Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board, for their support and work in securing funding for the Da Vinci X machine.
The securing of funding for the Da Vinci X evidences the investment that this Government is making into our NHS, with the NHS budget being the highest it has ever been. The Government last year announced that the NHS in England will receive an extra £20.5 billion a year in real terms by the 2023/2024 financial year. This budget increase demonstrates our strong commitment to the National Health Service.
That extra funding will mean that there will be about £600 million a week more, in cash terms, going into the NHS, which is nearly £400 million a week in real terms, once inflation has been taken into account.
Hemant Nemade, who is a Consultant Urological Surgeon at Northampton General Hospital and who will use the new robot to support cancer surgery for Northamptonshire residents, has said the following: “Surgical robots have great benefits for patients. They enable us to do difficult surgeries in hard-to-reach areas with better outcomes for patients and shorter stays in hospital. The robot doesn’t carry out the operation – surgeons use the robot to enable more precision, flexibility and control… Initially we will be focussed on cancer patients – particularly in areas with longer waiting lists as a result of the pandemic – and that will enable us to improve the way we deliver this often highly specialised surgery. It will also reduce the need for patients to travel to other specialist centres for difficult surgeries and be available to patients from across the county.”
The purchase of the robot also fits in with the hospital’s long-term plans to make Northamptonshire a centre of excellence for cancer care.
Northampton General Hospital’s post about this can be found here: https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/News/Articles/AllNews/Surgical-Robot-will-support-plans-to-improve-patient-care-across-Northants.aspx
The following article has also been published by NorthantsLive: https://www.northantslive.news/news/northamptonshire-news/surgical-robot-tentacle-arms-helping-6753376
(Photo Above: Michael Ellis MP with NHS Northamptonshire Chief Executive Toby Sanders at NHS Headquarters in Moulton Park, Northampton)